2. The moral excellencies which we are justly required to attain, and the consolations which we are commanded to seek in the use of appro- priate means, are still the gifts of God. There is, therefore, no incon- sistency between the d)ctrines of free agency and dependence, vs. 5, 13.
3. Those are to be received and treated as Christians whom Christ himself has received. Men have no right to make terms of communion which Christ has not made, v. 7.
4. There is no distinction under the gospel between the Jew and Gen- tile; Christ has received both classes upon the same terms and to the same privileges, vs. 8 — 12.
5. The quotation of the predictions of the Old Testament by the sacred writers of the New, and the application of them in proof of their doctrines, involves an acknowledgment of the divine authority of the ancient pro- phets. And as these predictions are quoted indiscriminately from all parts of the Old Testament, it is evident that the apostles believed in the inspiration of all the books included in the sacred canon by the Jews, vs. 9—12.
6. Christian ministers are not priests, i. e. they are not appointed to " offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." It is no part of their work to make atonement for the people ; this Christ has done by the one offering up of himself, whereby he has for ever perfected them that are sanctified, V. 16.
7. The truth of the gospel has been confirmed by God, through mighty signs and wonders and the power of the Holy Ghost. Infidelity, there- fore, is a disbelief of the testimony of God. When God has given satis- factory evidence of the mission of his servants, the sin of unbelief is not relieved by the denial that the evidence is satisfactory. If the gospel is true, therefore, infidelity will be found not merely to be a mistake, but a crime, v. 19.
8. The success of a minister in winning souls to Christ may be fairly appealed to as evidence that he preaches the truth. It is, when clearly ascertained, as decided an evidence as the performance of a miracle; because it is as really the result of a divine agency. This, however, like all other evidence, to be of any value, must be carefully examined and faithfully applied. The success may be real, and the evidence deci- sive, but it may be applied improperly. The same man may preach (and doubtless every uninspired man does preach) both truth and error ; God may sanction and bless the truth, and men may appeal to this bless- ing in support of the error. This is often done. Success, therefore, is of itself a very, difficult test for us to apply ; and must ever be held subject to the authority of the Scriptures. Nothing can prove that to be true which the Bible pronounces to be false, vs. 18, 19.
9. Prayer (and even intercessory prayer) has a real and important effi- cacy ; not merely in its influence on the mind of him who offers it, but also in securing the blessings for which we pray. Paul directed the Roman Christians to pray for the exercise of the divine providence in pro-
2 f2